Ruby-crowned Kinglet

Gallery: AvianPosted January 16, 2011148 views21 comments

Ruby-crowned Kinglet (Regulus calendula)

Place: Kearny, AZ
Date: January 9, 2011
Equipment: Nikon D200, Nikkor AF-S 300/2.8 & TC20E (2x), G1325, RRS BH-55, Sidekick, SB-800
Exposure: ISO 400, Aperture priority matrix metered, 1/750th @ f/11, minimal fill flash
Raw, PS CS3 on Mac G4, 74% of frame

Although common and widespread, this very small (4.25") and active species is a challenge to photograph and I've got only a couple of shots of the species that I like. Not baited or taped into camera range. I think it might have been displaying the red crown spot at a nearby Say’s Phoebe.

Honest critiques requested; all comments appreciated.

Comments

21 comments

Comment posted by Mauro Pasquero on January 16, 2011 at 11:23 AM

Very nice shot, Richard. I love it !
Mauro

Registered on January 21, 2010, 650 Posts, 2500 Comments

Comment posted by Ron Bielefeld on January 16, 2011 at 11:27 AM

Really nice Rich. I have tried several times to get a shot of this species as they moved through FL, but no luck. As you say, small and never stop moving in and out of the veg. Great light, sharpness, detail, and habitat. Love the look at the crown. Well done.

Registered on December 6, 2008, 360 Posts, 7132 Comments

Comment posted by Dan Harbour on January 16, 2011 at 11:27 AM

NIce image of the Kinglet. Great detail, and a nice pose. I like the way the branches frame him. Nice catch of the ruby crown.

Registered on January 4, 2008, 113 Posts, 2416 Comments

Comment posted by Sharon Hallowell on January 16, 2011 at 12:00 PM

Nice capture...these are tough to keep still! I like that you got some of the ruby in...I've never seen one showing that. Sharon

Registered on November 1, 2003, 392 Posts, 4810 Comments

Comment posted by Wayne Willison on January 16, 2011 at 12:13 PM

Cute as the dickens. Those legs don't look strong enough to suppost it. NIce one, Richard.

Registered on April 10, 2009, 292 Posts, 3967 Comments

Comment posted by Monica Siri on January 16, 2011 at 12:42 PM

Richard,
beautiful capture of this small and cute bird. Here in Italy we have the Regulus Regulus, which has a yellow spot instead of red. Great job.

Registered on September 20, 2009, 132 Posts, 3764 Comments

Comment posted by Steve Balke on January 16, 2011 at 3:28 PM

Cute little bird, so well captured Richard. I really like the pose, head turn and catchlight. Detail looks great. I appreciate the detailed equipment list. Very interesting.

Registered on June 18, 2009, 229 Posts, 2915 Comments

Comment posted by Jim DeWitt on January 16, 2011 at 4:27 PM

I think it was a former Avian Forum moderator who said a good avian photographer gan get a Rub-crowned Kinglet in the open, and a great avian photographer get the RCKI with the ruby crown showing. Unless you've tried, you don't know how hard this shot is. Brilliant, Richard!

Registered on August 28, 2006, 1240 Posts, 8506 Comments

Comment posted by Daniel & Loana on January 16, 2011 at 5:09 PM

Wonderful, Richard. I like the pose and the sky in the BG!

D&L

Registered on October 7, 2008, 166 Posts, 3044 Comments

Comment posted by Dennis Plank on January 16, 2011 at 6:52 PM

Great pose, Richard. The cocked head is perfect and it's always a treat to see the "crown".

Registered on January 28, 2008, 1767 Posts, 23192 Comments

Comment posted by Matt Shellenberg on January 16, 2011 at 7:24 PM

Congrats on capturing this little dynamo, Richard. Superb detail and I like that little head tilt displaying a bit of that ruby crown. Very nice job with the flash fill. I would not have noticed if you had not included it in your specs.

Registered on February 6, 2008, 168 Posts, 3118 Comments

Comment posted by Howard Cheek on January 16, 2011 at 9:06 PM

I've tried multiple times to view this large Richard, all I get is the top 25%
Probably just my connection.
This looks excellent to me. I especially like head-turn/pose and POV that reveals that red crown, great natural framing.

Registered on July 24, 2008, 1201 Posts, 10758 Comments

Comment posted by Gary Marquart on January 16, 2011 at 10:37 PM

Very nice shot Richard, a challenging species to capture to say the least and you captured it very well. Nice natural perch, eye contact and detail.

Registered on October 24, 2009, 126 Posts, 799 Comments

Comment posted by Barbara Graham on January 17, 2011 at 1:09 AM

Wonderful light and detail, and a great pose and comp especially in the circumstances you must have had.

Registered on July 27, 2010, 1310 Posts, 5035 Comments

Comment posted by Kurt Bowman on January 17, 2011 at 9:54 AM

LOVE the fact you can see the crown ...I am jealous of that

I am not sure I have ever been very successful getting the kind of shot I really want of and Kinglet...they are so darn fast! That being said, excellent job and I like the framing from the branches. My only small nit, is the focus seems to be more on the feet and lower chest. Those areas seem just a touch sharper than the eye and beak...but like I said, small nit. Kind of hard to get exact focus on such a small and fast subject.

Registered on June 19, 2008, 1005 Posts, 8028 Comments

Comment posted by Dan Moore on January 17, 2011 at 1:40 PM

Delightful shot Richard.

Dan

Registered on February 11, 2010, 143 Posts, 1248 Comments

Comment posted by KC Choo on January 17, 2011 at 1:48 PM

Nice one! They are tough to get nicely.

Registered on November 15, 2004, 519 Posts, 8278 Comments

Comment posted by Mia McPherson on January 17, 2011 at 6:33 PM

Excellent image of a very challenging subject Rich!

Registered on June 25, 2007, 491 Posts, 12566 Comments

Comment posted by Angela McCain on January 18, 2011 at 12:31 AM

Very engaging image. Might try to sharpen the eye just a bit. Good capture.

Registered on April 19, 2009, 367 Posts, 3589 Comments

Comment posted by Rob Drummond on January 18, 2011 at 6:27 AM

Love the setting Richard - really adds to the feel of the image

cheers
Rob

Registered on November 8, 2003, 617 Posts, 8267 Comments

Comment posted by David Williams on January 18, 2011 at 11:45 PM

Nicely done on this one, Richard. Indeed, hard to get a good shot of them, let alone with the crown showing.

Registered on March 8, 2005, 315 Posts, 2291 Comments